Petco rant. D:

[VerriKerri]

I went to Petco yesterday to buy cat food and I wanted to go by the bearded dragon tanks just to see what they had going on. I was horrified. There were huge crickets with these little tiny babies and one big dragon probably about 10 inches in length. He was stepping all over the baby ones and I'm pretty sure one of them was dead. The worst part is, the big dragon was the same one that was in the same tank that Dixon was in when I bought him and they just shoved him in with all the little ones. D: I felt horrible and wanted to complain but it was like 8:30 at night and there was no one around. How do we stop this from continuing to happen? I see this so much mistreated beardies in pet stores. There has to be something someone can do. I just had to rant somewhere, sorry guys. @_@

 

[Spoony]

That's absolutely horrific!!

Unfortunately, our complaints will fall on deaf ears even if we complain directly to the HQ. It would require them to change their setups in every store, and they would not be willing to spend the needed funds to change that. It's truly sad.

 

[SkeptiBee]

I don't know. I don't think it's their set ups that are a problem but the fact they overcrowd their animals. Snakes are usually in one independent tank per animal, yet I've seen up to 8 baby beardies crammed into a 10 gallon tank. The last time I was at PetSmart, there was a baby in there so small and scrawny, mushed against the glass and barely moving. All the others were hopping around, bright eyed and alert. One was glass dancing at me the whole time like he / she was begging to get out of there. Feces everywhere, food thrown around the whole cage. With all the environment pieces, it was hard for them all to move around so they just laid there. :/

If we can get the companies to stop overcrowding the cages and make adjustments to their food (like no more large crickets), at least that's a step. There is no reason why they can't have stock in the back for when a beardie is sold on the floor, a new one can be quickly replaced.

 

[Araneae]

Up until last year I refused to buy any animal from my local Petco. They always had sick animals that I repeatedly called to their attention. Then they either got new management or enough people complained because that store had a total overhaul. While still not the absolute best conditions, the animals look much, much better. Their living conditions and diet have greatly improved. The employees seem to be more knowledgeable than before.

Now if only Petsmart would improve.. :roll:

Perhaps it does do some good to complain. It certainly won't hurt will it?

 

[Feline]

You should create a petition and have people sign it. Post the link to the petition on social media websites like Facebook and various reptile forums. Then forward the petition and signatures to corporate headquarters. OR just don't purchase Beardies from pet store. It's no different than buying a puppy from puppy mill sources (ie: puppy pet stores). Adoption or purchasing from a reputable and responsible breeder is key.

 

[CountofCasualty]

I think it's store to store...My Petsmart is pretty good. Very few of the animals are on sand, all on rep carpet instead, I never see crickets running around in there...etcetc. I think you need to complain to management over and over again. Depending on where you live, animal societies might also help you when it comes to bad care.

 

[casioravine21]

Like I said in my other thread, my local PetCo has at least 30 in a ten gallon. PetSmart, however, has about 5-10 in a 10 gallon. PetCo really abuses their animals.

 

[VerriKerri]

What's really bad is they had like 6 open tanks available that they could have put the big one in. I don't think it will do me much good to complain considering the girl in charge of the reptiles thinks she knows everything and when I bought Dixon from there she tried to tell me to buy walnut shells for substrate and told me that I could buy him large crickets and he would be fine because "that's what he's been eating this whole time and if I change his food he won't eat." :roll: When I told her I didn't know if I wanted to buy Dixon because he wasn't moving around much she said "Well, they don't really move around much anyway it's not healthy for them, they mostly sit around." And when I told her I only wanted to buy the ReptiSun she told me "That's the worst brand you can get." And I have a friend that works there and I've tried to tell him many times my displeasure with the way they treat their beardies and he said there isn't anything he can do because they get a specific set up from corporate.

Also I found out a guy bought Dixon and the other big dragon together and returned them because he thought his kid was going to burn the house down with all the lights and I said "You guys let him buy two dragons to keep in the same tank?" and my friend said "Yeah, they don't like to be alone they get depressed."

I feel like you should have to pass a test and know everything accurately to sell animals to people but I guess they will just let any old person work there.

 

[CountofCasualty]

Which is why I won't work for Petco or Petsmart, I'd drive sales down because I wouldn't let people buy the wrong things for their pets and people would get discouraged.
It's why I work in a small pet store. The most you can do is stop shopping there, and have other people you know doing the same.

 

[SkeptiBee]

Which is why I won't work for Petco or Petsmart, I'd drive sales down because I wouldn't let people buy the wrong things for their pets and people would get discouraged.

Actually... if you do the number crunching, they'd be spending MORE buying individual items rather than the kits. A 40 gallon tank is what? Roughly $100? You add in the 24" ReptiSun light that's another $50 right there. Basking bulbs, lamps, repticarpet, supplements, all the little nicknacks they want to add for the environment... All that runs between $8-$30 depending... so yeah... more money...

You'd think companies would be all over that!

 

[CountofCasualty]

But the point is people WANT to buy the kits because everything is there opposed to buying everything separately. Hence driving down sales. I would also be telling people the proper information about exotics and they'd get all freaked out.